LetsRun.com co-founder and Cornell distance coach Robert "Rojo" Johnson sent shockwaves through the running world yesterday by breaking his more than 20 month long absence from competitive racing with an outing in a small meeting in Ithaca, New York.

Word about Johnson's race was leaked a few hours before the 7:30 p.m. start and a sizable and rowdy crowd showed up to watch. Johnson did not disappoint the faithful (although it must be admitted that half the crowd was rooting vehemently against him) as he picked up right where he left off prior to his more than 1.5 year hiatus.  Not missing a beat, Johnson proved himself still to be best in the world at being the most famous mediocre distance runner in the world.

The most shocking thing about yesterday's race, other than the fact that Johnson didn't come up with a phantom injury and actually raced, was the distance of the race.  Instead of the marathon distance that made him famous, Johnson competed yesterday in his first ever 3000 meter steeplechase.

"The last 1.5 to 2 years I haven't been injured at all. I've been secretly transforming myself into a steeple-chaser.  I figured there already was going to be one gold coming the Johnson family way in the marathon so I had to find another event," said coach Johnson.

Johnson seemingly has found his event as he overcame a few early race jitters to impressively smash the stadium record. In fact, Johnson ran faster over the 30 inch barriers than any athlete or coach in the 115 year of Cornell track and field.  After a conservative opening lap, Cornell sophomore A. Simon set an aggressive, record-breaking pace for the next two laps, gaining a 5 to 10 meter advantage at one point.  Some of Johnson's athletes, who had never seen him compete before, evidently had little faith in their sage leader as one or two of them were seen shaking their heads in apparent shame and one was even seen heading for the exits.

Their lack of faith soon appeared to be foolish as coming into the third water jump, Johnson with his competitive juices flowing fully for first time in nearly two years, impressively took command by hurdling the water jump and hammering to the lead - a lead which he would never relinquish.  Rojo's decision to "Dawn Cleary" the water jumps after the first two paid huge dividends as he was losing significant ground when he attempted to hurdle them.

"Thank God, I went to the NCAA Regionals last weekend or I probably would have lost this race as I would have never have dreamed of just hurdling the thing and I was atrocious trying to step on them," said Johnson who hurdled all the jumps after the first two except for the last one when he ceded to the crowds desire for a 360 degree spin (although it ended up at about 180).

After relinquishing the lead, the young Simon continued to battle hard on her own, pushing herself to the limit and just missing the previous stadium record held by 2 seconds.  The record before Johnson's stunning debut was held by C. Gray who magnanimously came out to the race to serve as the official starter.  

Simon's impressive performance capped a great year for the Cornell sophomore who in the last year has gone from an unknown to a rising star.  Track aficionados have been most impressed by the youngster's bravado and fearlessness as the #1 rumor at the track was that Simon actually had the gall to challenge Johnson to the race.  The second hottest rumor circulating around the stadium was that when challenged to the race by Simon, Johnson replied by saying, "I may not be a man, but I'm certainly not a woman."

Recent Cornell graduate Z. Lang, showing the effects of senior week, finished a disappointing and well-beaten third.  

Despite the record breaking nature of Rojo's performance, some of the fans left the stadium less than totally satisfied - proving yet again that some track fans are going to complain about the presentation of a track meet no matter how well it's put on or how spectacular the performance.

One fan, who didn't want to be identified, was heard muttering, "I'm just really confused right now. I don't know how a man can compete in a women's steeple."

Johnson refused to let anyone take anything away from his first victory in several years.  "I couldn't be happier. This really was a great day for me.  This sets me up nicely for 2004.  I think I've got a good chance at making the 30 inch team for Athens.  To call this event anything besides the 30 inch steeple is totally sexist and despicable."

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